AmeriCorps/SBC GED ProjectPresented by: Mary Rousseau and Anitra Hill

GED PROJECT

• Program– GED and Resources– Program Procedure

• TANF Program Students (data)• Enrollment process, prep work, testing, tracking

student progress

– Impact of the GED project on our communities

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation

Why GED?•Approximately 3,000 students drop out of high school each DAY•We need to help set these lives in motion

•In 1973, 28% of jobs required a college degree or certificate•Today, it’s more than 62%•graduates are eligible for federal financial aid for further education

GED 2014 TEST CHANGE

• January 2014 the GED test changed. It became computer based and meets the standards of the regular high school course of study.

• The new test requires critical thinking skills and being able to analyze information.

AmeriCorps Grant • Corporation for National and Community

Service (CNCS) awarded Sitting Bull College a grant for our GED project. It is our primary source of financial help.

• The grant makes it possible for ongoing professional development training for our GED tutors and living allowance.

• We are in the final year of our 2nd three year AmeriCorps grant.

Types of Training• Steck-Vaughn GED training to use textbooks• Sitting Bull College Faculty - GED Subjects• North Dakota State Commission• South Dakota Adult Lifelong Learning• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Education

Department – Professional Development Day• Quarterly monthly meetings/trainings

GED COMPLETERSCalendar Year

Jan - Dec GraduatesGrant Year

Aug 8 - Aug 7 Graduates

2014 6 2013-2014 19

2015 12 2014-2015 7

2016 13 2015-2016 19

2017 18 2016-2017 21

Total 49 66

2014 Grant Year- 17 completed with old GED Test and 2 with new 2014 testWe did not get test ready until the end of May

GED Student Attendance Sheets• Each visit to a GED site the tutor will sign in and

out for every student including TANF referrals.• A weekly attendance sheet is sent to the TANF

program.• This helps the TANF program monitor the

students’ time at the GED site.• An internal student progress tracking system

was developed to monitor and assess each student in the program.

TANF Students Attendance• This 2016 - 2017grant year we have 23 TANF

students enrolled in the program.• 12 – 1 to 9 site visits• 6 – 10 to 19 site visits• 5 – 25 to 68 site visits

This year’s success story• TANF student came in for services 19 times

in 1 year and 4 months and tested 12 times.

– Reasoning through Language Arts - 1 practice -1 official test

– Social Studies - 2 practice -2 official tests – Science - 1 practice -2 official tests – Math - 2 practice - 1 official test

Last Year’s Success Story• TANF student came in for services 49 times

in 8 months and tested 18 times.– Reasoning through Language Arts - 2 practice -1

official test – Social Studies - 3 practice -1 official test – Science - 1 practice -1 official test – Math - 6 practice -3 official tests

AmeriCorps Member/GED Tutor• I didn't realize how many people utilize the GED program and how

important my job as a tutor would be.• AmeriCorps has helped me to understand how important my role

as a tutor is. I am the person who has the most contact with our students.

• The students, as well as AmeriCorps, trust in me and believe that I will not only exercise patience, but that I will do the best of my ability to help the students earn their GED.

• AmeriCorps has helped me identify these community responsibilities that I have and has given me to tools I need to succeed at them.

Steps to start earning your GED…Enrollment

• GED sites – Fort Yates, McLaughlin & Mobridge• Application, current Photo ID, make an account

on GED.com and do GED Reading/Language pretest.

• Ages 16 & 17 have a special application• Must be 16 years old to begin the GED.

GED.com recommendations• GED pretest results is the starting point to

assist the student• Workbooks, videos, websites and hands on

resources to help student attain a passing score of 145 so they can official test.

• North Dakota Civics test requirement for GED certification.

How long does it take?• Motivated students can complete in three-four

months– Or as a little as one month!

• Time• Energy• Patience • Perseverance

What good is the GED?

• Provide family sustaining wages• Provide a futureFor this generation And the next!

OUR GED PROJECT SUPPORTERS• STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE/BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION

• SITTING BULL COLLEGE

• AMERICORPS – CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

• NORTH DAKOTA STATE COMMISSION

• NORTH DAKOTA DEPT OF INSTRUCTION

• SOUTH DAKOTA ADULT LIFELONG LEARNING

GED without AmeriCorps• One location for GED services• Facilities – one room only• One instructor/examiner• Limited services

GED Program with AmeriCorps• Three locations• Facilities – three classrooms and two offices• Seven tutors/examiner and staff (current)• Networking with other agencies• Tutor training for new GED test

2017 GED GRADUATION“…. 2014 change brought a test that has been harder and more rigorous than any high school equivalency test from the past. …... GED graduates are finding equal to higher rates of college credits from semester to semester and seeing less of a dropout rate compared to high school diploma graduates. So what does this all mean? It simply means that employers and colleges are now getting individuals who are ready to take their education to another level or are more career ready. The test you passed to accomplish this goal has taught you to think more critically and to analyze information on a deeper level. ….”

Stanley Schauer ND Assistant Director-Adult EducationGED Graduation May 12, 2017

Our GED Team• Mary Rousseau, GED Director• Michelle Sandmeier, Management Assistant• Renee Froelich, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor• Anitra Hill, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor• Dawn Lalicic, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor• Baylee LaCompte, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor• Dennis Swofford, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor• Mary Martin, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor• Melanie Walking Bull, AmeriCorps Member/GED tutor

WEBSITESwww.sittingbull.eduwww.standingrock.orgwww.cncs.govwww.americorpsnd.comwww.nd.gov/dpihttps://www.gedtestingservice.com/2014testhttps://www.gedtestingservice.com/economicimpacthttps://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/brochures (go down to 2014)https://gedtestingservice.com/educators/competitive-landscape

Contact InformationMary Rousseau, GED DirectorAmeriCorps/SBC GED Program605-845-3206mary.rousseau@sittingbull.eduanitra.hill@sittingbull.edu